Support for Breast Cancer Research with Grant from AVON

BUFFALO, NY Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute Principal Researcher Scientist Daniel Gewirth has been awarded $300,000 by the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade. The funds are part of the $7.6 million raised in New York City this past weekend as part of a the AVON 39 Walk to End Breast Cancer, which had over 3,100 participants from 44 states and included a number of breast cancer survivors.

Dr. Gewirth’s grant will support his group’s continued research on examining how a patient’s immune system can be a powerful tool for fighting metastatic breast cancer. By studying how proteins extracted from tumor cells can lead to an immune response, they hope to help the patient’s immune system recognize and attack the cancer.

“I couldn’t be more pleased to receive this form of support from AVON. The effort they have made to combat breast cancer with every available resource is impressive. Support like this enables us to be even more aggressive in our pursuit of eradicating this disease affecting so many or our friends and loved ones,” says Dr. Gewirth, who also has a joint appointment as a faculty member in the Department of Structural Biology at the University at Buffalo.

“Grants like this one from the AVON Breast Cancer Research Program recognize the importance of basic research in enabling the discovery of novel approaches to treat Breast Cancer and other diseases,” says Hauptman-Woodward Vice President for Research, Andrew Gulick, PhD. About AVON 39 The Walk to End Breast Cancer AVON 39 The Walk to End Breast Cancer is the largest fund-raising event for the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade. Since its launch by the Avon Foundation for Women 2003, more than 220,000 participants have trekked 6,868,000 miles and raised nearly $590,000,000 in the fight to end breast cancer. Funds raised at each event provide direct impact in the area where the event takes place, and also help make sure that care and research programs nationwide have adequate resources to make the most progress possible. For more information about AVON 39 The Walk to End Breast Cancer, visit www.avon39.org